More fruit, dairy products to be exported to China

Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu announced that obstacles for exporting certain fruits and dairy products to China are to be eliminated.

Hurdles for selling certain agriculture produce to China have already been removed as Turkey started exporting cherries to the country, the minister said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 8th Regional Products Fair (YÖREX), organized in association with Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Çavuşoğlu said the ministry mobilizes every opportunity to render YÖREX into an international fair.

Drawing attention to the significant surge in the exports of agricultural produce, the minister said the quality of the domestic products is increasing along with the branding process that includes their geographical indication.

Addressing the local and regional producers, Çavuşoğlu highlighted that the obstacles hindering the export of agricultural produce to China are being lifted.

Recalling that Turkey has started exporting cherries to China, the minister announced that certain fruits and dairy products will also be exported to the country.

In 2015, Turkey's dairy products export amounted to $270 million. The top markets for exports were Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

As the world leader in cherry production and third in exports, Turkish cherry exports are reported to have reached $155 million since April when the season began.

Germany, Russia and the Netherlands are the biggest markets for Turkish cherries. Exports to Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Bahrain have experienced a substantial increase as well.

Thanks to the agreement with Turkish cargo, approximately 400 tons of cherries were exported to 47 countries. $1.5 million of cherry exports this season have been sent by plane.